Universal four barrel carburetor adapter

ABSTRACT

A thick flat plate of substantially constant thickness for disposition between the mounting flanges of a four barrel carburetor and an associated intake manifold. The plate includes a central generally square but slightly trapezoidal opening formed therethrough and the opening is beveled toward one side of the plate. An insert plate (a plurality of selectively usable insert plates may be provided) including beveled peripheral edges is receivable within the opening formed in the first mentioned or body plate with corresponding sides of the plates coplanar. The insert plate has four apertures formed therethrough and the apertures through the insert plate may either be cylindrical or tapered, as desired. Furthermore, the corner portions of the adapter or body plate are provided with first and second sets of counterformed bores for adapting the body plate for securing various four barrel carburetors to various intake manifolds.

United States Patent Pierce, Jr.

[4 1 July 25, 1972 [54] UNIVERSAL FOUR BARREL CARBURETOR ADAPTER [21]Appl. No.: 117,407

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 874,088 4/1942 France ..48/ l 80 PrimaryExaminer-Herbert F. Ross Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B,Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A thick flat plate of substantially. constantthickness for disposition between the mounting flanges of a four barrelcarburetor and an associated intake manifold. The plate includes acentral generally square but slightly trapezoidal openingformedtherethrough and the opening is beveled toward one side of the plate. Aninsert plate (a plurality of selectively usable insert plates may beprovided) including beveled peripheral edges is receivable within theopening formed in the first mentioned or body plate with correspondingsides of the plates coplanar. The insert plate has four apertures formedtherethrough and the apertures through the insert plate may either becylindrical or tapered, as desired. Furthermore, the corner portions ofthe adapter or body plate are provided with first and second sets ofcounterformed bores for adapting the body plate for securing variousfour barrel carburetors to various intake manifolds.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 Fig.1

Boyd J. Pierce, Jr.

1.\' VE TOR.

UNIVERSAL FOUR BARREL CARBURETOR ADAPTER This invention relates to anadapter plate to be utilized in conjunction with two insert platesprovided therefor, in securing various four barrel carburetors toselected engine intake manifolds and, by means of its selectively usableadapter plates, comprises an improvement over the adapter plate ofsimilar construction disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,366,145, dated Jan.30, 1968.

By utilizing the adapter of the instant invention together with the twoinserts provided therefor, the adapter replaces eleven specific adapterplates which are presently being marketed to adapt various selected fourbarrel carburetors for securement to specific intake manifolds.

The adapter of the instant invention enables the mounting of acarburetor with given venturi bore sizes on intake manifolds havingsimilar bore sizes but which have different mounting hole patterns. Inaddition, the adapter facilitates the mounting of carburetors havinglarge venturi bore sizes on manifolds having small inlet passages andthe adapter may further be utilized in mounting carburetors having smallthrottle bores on intake manifolds having large intake passages. Stillfurther, the adapter plate may also be utilized in mounting largeventuri bore carburetors on intake manifolds having a single largeintake passage as well as carburetors having small diameter venturipassages on intake manifolds having single large intake openings.

The main object of this invention is to provide a carburetormanifoldadapter plate which may be utilized in adapting large numbers of fourbarrel carburetors for use on large numbers of intake manifolds designedfor use in conjunction with four barrel carburetors.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adapter assemblyconstructed in a manner such that the main body plate thereof may beassembled with either of the adapter plates with the adapter plateskeyed relative to the body plate in predetermined position relativethereto.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide an adapter plate in accordance with the preceding objectswhich will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to likeparts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial elevational view illustrating the adapter utilizedin mounting a specific form of four barrel carburetor to a particularinternal combustion engine intake manifold;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adapter illustrating the main bodyplate thereof and a first form of insert plate;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a modifiedform of insert plate.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generallydesignates the adapter plate assembly of the instant invention. Theassembly 10 includes a generally rectangular main body plate 12 having asingle central opening 14 formed therethrough and including four cornerextensions or ears 16. The assembly 10 further includes an insert plate18 having four cylindrical apertures 20 and 22 formed therethrough.

As may be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, the adapter 10 isinterposed between the lower end of a four barrel carburetor referred toin general by the reference numeral 24 and the mounting flange 26 of anintake manifold 28 supported from an internal combustion engine (notshown).

The corner extensions or ears 16 are disposed at the four comers of thegenerally square main body plate 12 and include first and second sets ofbores 28 and 30. The bores 28 include upper hexagonal counterbores 32and the bores 30 include lower'end hexagonal counterbores 36.

The carburetor 24 includes corner mounting ear portions 38 correspondingto the ears or corners extensions 16 and the -mounting ear portions 38include downwardly opening threaded blind bores 40.

The walls of the central opening 14 formed in the main body plate 12 aredownwardly tapered as at 42 and the peripheral edge of the insert plate18 is similarly tapered as at 44. In addition, the opening 14 is widerat one marginal edge portion 46 of the main body plate 12 than at theopposite marginal edge portion 48. Also, the marginal edge portion 50 ofthe insert plate 18 is longer than the opposite marginal edge portion 52and the insert plate 18 is seatingly receivable in the tapered opening14 with the upper and lower surfaces 54 and 56 of the insert plate 18coplanar with the upper and lower surfaces 58 and 60 of the main bodyplate 12.

From FIG. 4 of the drawings, it may be seen that shouldered and threadedfasteners 62 are received through the bores 28 and threadedly engaged inthreaded bores64 formed in the mounting flange 26 of the intake manifold28 in order to secure the adapter 10 to the mounting flange 26. Inaddition, shouldered and threaded fasteners 66 are secured upwardlythrough the bores 30 and threadedly engaged in the bores 40 formed inthe lower end of the carburetor 24 in order to secure the carburetor 24to the adapter 10 and thus the carburetor 24 to the intake manifold 28.

In some instances, a carburetor to be mated to the intake manifold 28will have mounting ear portions corresponding to the portions 38provided with through-bores aligned with corresponding bores formed in aparticular manifold mounting flange such as the mounting flange 26 andregisterable with either the bores 28 or 30. In such an instance, onlyone set of fasteners are needed to secure the adapter 10 between thebase of a carburetor and an intake manifold. Further, the adapter 10 maybe inverted in the event the carburetor mounting ear portions are spacedfurther apart than the corresponding mounting flange portions of anassociated intake manifold. In such an instance, the fasteners 62 aresecured upwardly through the bores 28 and into the base of theassociated carburetor and the fasteners 66 are secured downwardlythrough the bores 30 and into the mounting flange of the associatedintake manifold. Thus, it may be seen that the adapter may be utilizedto secure various large base carburetors to large intake manifolds,small base carburetors to small intake manifolds, large base carburetorsto small base manifolds and small base carburetors to large manifolds,independent of the relative sizes of the air and fuel passages formedthrough the carburetor and intake manifolds.

In any of the aforementioned uses of the adapter 10, the insert plate 18may be utilized to mate carburetor bores of a particular size withintake manifold bores of the same size.

Further, with attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 5 of thedrawings, there may be seen a second insert plate 70 which is of thesame peripheral configuration as the insert plate 18 but which includesa plurality of apertures 72 corresponding to the apertures 20. However,the apertures 72 are tapered. Accordingly, if the main base plate 12 isto be utilized in the upright position illustrated in FIG. 3, the insertplates 70 may be utilized to mate a carburetor with large bores to amanifold with small bores. Also, if the main body plate 12 is inverted,the insert plate 70 may be utilized to mate a carburetor with smallbores to an intake manifold with large bores.

It is pointed out that the apertures 20 are of somewhat larger diameterthan the apertures 22 and also that the plate 70 is provided with pairsof different size apertures. Of course, the apertures 20 are utilized tocouple the secondary carburetor bores with the corresponding bores ofthe associated intake manifold and the apertures 22 are utilized to matethe primary carburetor bores with the corresponding bores of theassociated intake manifold.

Inasmuch as corresponding marginal portions of the opening 14 and insertplate 18 as well as the opposite marginal portions of the insert plate70 are of different dimensions, the insert plates 18 and 70 may beinserted in the opening 14 in only one indexed position relative to themain body plate 12.

The adapter may be constructed of any suitable material, either of aheat conductive type or a heat insulative type, and the thickness of theplates l2, l8 and 70 may be any thickness desired, as long as the insertplates to be utilized with the plate 12 are of the same thickness.

In addition to the main body plate 12 being utilized in conjunction witheither the insert plate 18 or the insert plate 70 to adapt a particularfour barrel carburetor to a chosen intake manifold, the adapter 10 mayhave its main base plate 12 utilized by itself. Some four barrelcarburetors are presently mated to intake manifolds having a singlelarge central opening and. when the adapter 10 is utilized to mate afour barrel carburetor to such an intake manifold, the main body plate12 may be used without either the insert plate 18 or the insert plate70.

As a further alternative, the apertures 72 formed through the insertplate 70 may be oppositely tapered thereby further increasing theversatility of the adapter 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A universal carburetor-manifold adapter comprising a thick body platehaving generally parallel and planar opposite side faces, said platehaving a central generally square opening formed therein with roundedcorners, said opening being tapered toward one side face of said plate,said adapter includes a selectively usable insert plate of generallysquare plan shape with rounded corners and beveled peripheral edges,said insert plate being seatingly receivable in said opening withcorresponding opposite side faces of said plates coplanar, said insertplate having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough for registrywith the adjacent ends of the venturi passages of the associatedcarburetor and the intake passages of the associated intake manifold.

2. The combination of claim I wherein said apertures taper toward oneside face of said insert plate.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said apertures are cylindrical.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body plate is generallyrectangular in plan shape including four corner portions, said cornersportions including a plurality of sets of mounting bores formedtherethrough with each set of bores including a bore in each cornerportion of said body plate, said sets of bores being arranged indifferent patterns of four bores each.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said sets of bores equal two innumber and one set of said bores includes counterbores opening throughone side face of said body plate and the other set of bores includingcounterbores opening through the other side face of said body plate.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said adapter includes aselectively usable insert plate of generally square plan shape withrounded comers and beveled peripheral edges, said insert plate beingseatingly receivable in said opening with corresponding opposite sidefaces of said plates coplanar, said insert plate having a' plurality ofapertures formed therethrough for registry with the adjacent ends of theventuri passages of the associated carburetor and the intake passages ofthe associated intake manifold. 4

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said apertures taper toward oneside face of said insert plate.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said apertures are cylindrical.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes a pair ofselectively usable insert plates of generally square plan shape withrounded corners and beveled peripheral edges, said insert plates beingalternately seatingly receivable in said opening with the correspondingopposite side faces of said insert plates and main body plate coplanar,said insert plates each having a plurality of apertures formedtherethrough for registry with the adjacent ends of the venturi passagesof the associated carburetor and the intake passages of the associatedintake manifold, the apertures in one of said insert plates beingcylindrical and the apertures in the other of said insert plates beingtapered toward one side face of said other insert plate, the taperedinsert plate apertures of said other insert plate being tapered towardthe same side of said other insert plate toward which the peripheraledge portions of said other insert plate are beveled.

10. A universal carburetor-manifold adapter comprising a thick, flatplate body member having first and second substantially planar andmutually parallel surfaces separated by the thickness of said bodymember, said body member being formed to define sets of retainerapertures extending normally therethrough and disposed contiguously tothe edge periphery thereof, the array disposition of each said setmatching that of standard carburetors and intake manifolds, each saidset having a quadrature array disposition which is different from thatof each of the other of said sets, each of said retaining aperturesbeing formed to include nut and bolt head receiving means counterformedfrom each of said first and second surfaces into said body member in amanner to form a recess retaining shoulder for either of said nut andbolt heads, said adapter body member including a central portion beingfurther apertured to form. a plurality of fuel mixture flow ports, saidcentral portion being removable from said adapter body member, saidadapter body member including a large central opening formed thereintapered toward one of said first and second surfaces, said centralportion comprising an insert plate including beveled peripheral edgeportions seatingly receivable in said central opening with said firstand second surfaces of said body member generally coplanar with thecorresponding surfaces of said insert plate.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said flow ports each define aconical surface truncated by said corresponding surfaces of said insertplate.

1. A universal carburetor-manifold adapter comprising a thick body platehaving generally parallel and planar opposite sIde faces, said platehaving a central generally square opening formed therein with roundedcorners, said opening being tapered toward one side face of said plate,said adapter includes a selectively usable insert plate of generallysquare plan shape with rounded corners and beveled peripheral edges,said insert plate being seatingly receivable in said opening withcorresponding opposite side faces of said plates coplanar, said insertplate having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough for registrywith the adjacent ends of the venturi passages of the associatedcarburetor and the intake passages of the associated intake manifold. 2.The combination of claim 1 wherein said apertures taper toward one sideface of said insert plate.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidapertures are cylindrical.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidbody plate is generally rectangular in plan shape including four cornerportions, said corners portions including a plurality of sets ofmounting bores formed therethrough with each set of bores including abore in each corner portion of said body plate, said sets of bores beingarranged in different patterns of four bores each.
 5. The combination ofclaim 4 wherein said sets of bores equal two in number and one set ofsaid bores includes counterbores opening through one side face of saidbody plate and the other set of bores including counterbores openingthrough the other side face of said body plate.
 6. The combination ofclaim 5 wherein said adapter includes a selectively usable insert plateof generally square plan shape with rounded corners and beveledperipheral edges, said insert plate being seatingly receivable in saidopening with corresponding opposite side faces of said plates coplanar,said insert plate having a plurality of apertures formed therethroughfor registry with the adjacent ends of the venturi passages of theassociated carburetor and the intake passages of the associated intakemanifold.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said apertures tapertoward one side face of said insert plate.
 8. The combination of claim 6wherein said apertures are cylindrical.
 9. The combination of claim 1wherein said adapter includes a pair of selectively usable insert platesof generally square plan shape with rounded corners and beveledperipheral edges, said insert plates being alternately seatinglyreceivable in said opening with the corresponding opposite side faces ofsaid insert plates and main body plate coplanar, said insert plates eachhaving a plurality of apertures formed therethrough for registry withthe adjacent ends of the venturi passages of the associated carburetorand the intake passages of the associated intake manifold, the aperturesin one of said insert plates being cylindrical and the apertures in theother of said insert plates being tapered toward one side face of saidother insert plate, the tapered insert plate apertures of said otherinsert plate being tapered toward the same side of said other insertplate toward which the peripheral edge portions of said other insertplate are beveled.
 10. A universal carburetor-manifold adaptercomprising a thick, flat plate body member having first and secondsubstantially planar and mutually parallel surfaces separated by thethickness of said body member, said body member being formed to definesets of retainer apertures extending normally therethrough and disposedcontiguously to the edge periphery thereof, the array disposition ofeach said set matching that of standard carburetors and intakemanifolds, each said set having a quadrature array disposition which isdifferent from that of each of the other of said sets, each of saidretaining apertures being formed to include nut and bolt head receivingmeans counterformed from each of said first and second surfaces intosaid body member in a manner to form a recess retaining shoulder foreither of said nut and bolt heads, said adapter body member including acentral portion being Further apertured to form a plurality of fuelmixture flow ports, said central portion being removable from saidadapter body member, said adapter body member including a large centralopening formed therein tapered toward one of said first and secondsurfaces, said central portion comprising an insert plate includingbeveled peripheral edge portions seatingly receivable in said centralopening with said first and second surfaces of said body membergenerally coplanar with the corresponding surfaces of said insert plate.11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said flow ports each define aconical surface truncated by said corresponding surfaces of said insertplate.